This month two of our team, Zina and Marielle were leant out from the whale project for three weeks to help clean and restore a beautiful stone sculpture of the goddess Athena. She is the goddess of wisdom and adorns the front of the museum and her attribute, the owl, can be seen in the Bergen University’s seal.
The sculpture on the museums façade is composed of Athena in the centre, measuring 1280 x 700 x 2050 mm (length x depth x hight) flanked by two smaller rocaille volute ornaments. The stone ornaments have been carved in German sandstone possibly Obernhofern sandstone which is also known as Bremer stone.
A drawing of the Athena sculpture and stone carvings on the front of Bergen Musuem.
Over the years, since it was created in 1865, the sculpture has been badly affected by the pollution in Bergen and a black crust has formed over the stone. In addition the sculpture has other problems such as flaking stone which has been caused by running water, frost and salt damage. A stone conservator from Stavanger Museum came to assess the work and make an initial treatment proposal and then Zina and Marielle began work on restoring this beautiful and symbolic feature of Bergen University .
The first week up on the scaffolding the temperature held a steady minus ten degrees and we were very grateful when woolly socks were bought in and an extra heater was put up! We started with testing the recommended cleaning method which was first soaking the surface with water and then cleaning with soft metal brushes and more water. Since the black dirt was tougher then anticipated, we developed a method of packing them in over night with wet cloths (to keep them wet as long as possible before cleaning) as well as applying a triammoniumcitrate gel on very black areas. This complex binder loosened the black dirt a bit and saved our arms from scrubbing too much!
Pictures of part of the Athena Sculpture before and after cleaning.
Over the three weeks we carried out this method and with a lot of scrubbing we were happy with the result in the end. By doing repairs with a sandstone mortar on flaking surfaces the stone will be protected from further damage caused by rain and frost. We have enjoyed undertaking some stone conservation work but we’re also looking forward to being back in the (relative) warmth of the whale hall!
So, for now it’s time for Christmas holidays and celebrations and work on the whales will begin again in January 2011. From everyone in the whale team we wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
